All of us have experienced a hoarse voice at some point: it could be after a bad cold, after excitedly cheering on your football team, after singing along with your favourite band at a concert, or even after a long conversation with a friend you haven’t met in years.

Usually, within days, your voice improves on its own. But when a hoarse or changed voice lasts for weeks, it may be your body trying to warn you of something more serious, including cancer.

Hoarseness means that the voice sounds rough, weak, strained, or unusually deep. This usually happens when the voice box, located in the throat, is not functioning normally. The voice box helps us speak, breathe, and prevents food or water from entering the airway.

Any problem affecting this area can directly change how the voice sounds.

One of the most common cancers linked to hoarseness is cancer of the voice box, also known as laryngeal cancer. As cancer cells grow, they interfere with the normal movement of the vocal cords, making the voice sound abnormal. In many people, hoarseness is the first noticeable symptom.

Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play

A hoarse voice can also be linked to thyroid cancer. The thyroid is a gland in the front of the neck that controls important body functions. If a tumour presses on the nerves that control the vocal cords, it can cause a change in the voice. This is more commonly seen in women and may occur along with a lump in the neck.

Smoking and alcohol consumption are the biggest risk factors for cancers affecting the vocal cords. Long-term exposure to second-hand smoke and regular contact with harmful chemical fumes can also increase risk.

If cancer is suspected, doctors may examine the voice box using a small camera and take a tissue sample for testing – a short, simple procedure that is painless. Once diagnosed, treatment is planned by a team that includes surgeons, radiation specialists, and medical oncologists. For treatment, surgery including laser surgery and radiation are the mainstays, with chemotherapy playing an adjunctive role.

The good news is that when detected early, these cancers are often treatable. Any voice change lasting more than two weeks deserves medical attention. Quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, eating a healthy diet, and seeking early care can save lives – sometimes starting with something as simple as listening to your voice.

By Dr. Deepak Sarin, Chairman, Head & Neck Cancer, Medanta
Dr. Amit Bhargava, Director, Medical Oncology, Cancer Care at Medanta